Learn about Space while you Play!

This post is sponsored by Entertainment One and Scholastic. Although I received compensation, all opinions expressed are my own.

Playtime with a 4-year-old is one of the special joys that comes with being a mom. I’ve enjoyed playing with my kids at every age, but there is something about 4 that I just love. My youngest has an enormous imagination and a big personality. She’s also at an age where she can articulate what she’s thinking and what she wants, which is a big step in her development. At 4 we are working on problem solving, specifically coming up with solutions through play. Today I am sharing a few ways I help teach problem solving and learn about space while we play (plus a sweepstakes you are going to want to enter!)

Playing for kids is like studying and reading for adults. Play is how kids learn new skills and develop language, social skills, and creativity. Nora and I love to craft and build together. She joins me in my office daily and pulls out paper and scissors to work on projects she has dreamed up. Of course she regularly encounters barriers and gets frustrated when she can’t move past them, but through talking and trying out different solutions as we craft, she develops problem-solving skills that will be valuable later in life.

This week we sat down to make planets. (Nora loves anything space-themed lately, so we’ve been playing games and reading books related to space.) To make our mini planets, we painted styrofoam balls and added layers of color and glitter to give each planet character.

Nora ran into a few barriers in this project, but instead of taking over and doing it for her I helped her think through each barrier and problem solve on her own. For example, it’s hard to paint a ball while you are holding it. But if you put the ball on a stick, you can paint it all over! She came up with this on her own after I gave her a few suggestions.

Adding the layers of paint and glitter to the planets meant we had to wait until they were dry, which frustrated Nora a bit. But we decided to play a game of her choice while we waited, and the time flew by. Everyday play can help kids learn to problem solve while having fun.

If you like these Space themed activities you are going to love PJ Masks Mission to the Moon, a digital program about the power of play for preschool-age children. You can find more at ​scholastic.com/pjmasksmission. This program uses the theme of the moon and space to provide parents with resources, tips, and stories to help them encourage playtime activities that foster, curiosity, creativity, movement, social-emotional learning, the development of social skills and educational development.

Nora and I are looking forward to ​these craft videos that teach kids to make their own superhero mask and straw rocket launcher. They will be great accessories for our planets.

Participants will be entered for a chance to win a trip to New York for a family of four to visit New York City’s science museums. Runners-up will receive age-appropriate Scholastic books and space-themed toys.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 US & DC. 18+ with at least one child who is currently 12 years of age or younger at the time of entry. Void where prohibited. Click through for Official Rules.

I encourage you to check out scholastic.com/pjmasksmission and for more resources that help foster problem solving in Preschoolers. These space themed preschool activities are sure to be a hit with your kids.

Tell me about your little ones, what is their favorite playtime activity, are they excited to learn about space?